I have a 69 coupe with manual steering. TCP has both a power rack and manual rack. How much of an improvement will I feel with just the manual rack and pinion and will the turning radious be affected by the rack and pinion? (meaning a smaller turning radious)

I read about the problems with Flaming River r&p. The additional fabrication that was necessary and the extra parts that FR would not take back...

 

I didn't think a 69 had rack and pinion

 

upgrading to a rack and pinion would be much better. (say that has a steering box) A lot less play and a weightloss. The steering radius would be close to the same.

 

The TCP manual rack will produce and more precise and responsive steering expereince in your car. There will also be a slight reduction in effort over the standard worm gear box you have now. I am not familair enough with the R&P kit designed for the 69 to speak to your turning radius but I know when we put a gen one on our 65 coupe the turning radius was increased do to design of the part and installation pieces. I am pretty sure this was engineered out in the gen 2 units, but again I have no first hand knowledge.

 

Oh, sorry about that. No, it didn't come with rack and pinion. I have a Flaming River manual steering box in it now. Would like to make the steering a little easier.

 

69misstress,
You probably read about my FR R&P woes about the installation...
If your car is a stock small block with exhaust manifolds, this should not be a problem for you. It's when you have headers that causes the problems. And that may also be true with TCP also. Don't believe a salesman...
The steering effort is much easier now, but not like power. There is no play whatsoever! The radius is a bit larger and effort increases the tighter you want to turn. Of course, my tires are very sticky, treadwear rating of 50.
What ratio of gear box do you have? Manual should be 16:1 and power 20:1, which doesn't make sense to me. Using a 20:1 would make it easier in a manual application...but require more turns than the other.